A Graduation Gift

Then the room was enveloped with silence. The awkward situation held the two in a daze and they just dropped down their heads in an effort to avoid each other's eyes. It was Jasper who broke the silence.

"Oh! Forget it! We'd better not meddle in the way of the youngsters. Everything would be all right as long as we two can keep each other company."

Jasper held Michelle's hand while looking at her with his eyes filled with adoration.

Michelle let out a sigh of despair. It seemed that they had been left with no choice. She wished that they would get over it patiently and considerately. She didn't want her reckless actions in her youth been replayed by them.

Cassandra froze, eyeing the lift door closing before her. With Rufus's face gradually fading out of her sight, she felt like the world was being shut down upon her.

She was aching to jump up and hug him to reconcile; she wanted to be like any other woman who would run after their boyfriends and give them last-minute hugs before they go.

But she couldn't. She was Cassandra, the wife, though nominal, of Rufus's half-brother.

Her stomach churned at the thought of Rufus. She wanted desperately to go after him, but she stopped herself and pounded her chest slightly with one hand.

It felt so bad to be in a situation like that. She could do nothing but watch him go.

Tears welled up in her eyes in frustration.

Cassandra thought she was strong enough all this time. When her father was put into jail, she didn't lose her nerve but tried every way to minimize the negative impact of the aftermath.

But for the one she loved most, she felt powerless and could do nothing.

"Rufus..."

She whispered his name in a soft voice, but it sounded like she was so feeble and weak deep inside that no sound was coming out of her mouth.

Cassandra didn't realize until now that she had already fallen deeply in love with him. Her mind was always occupied by his occasional highhanded manner, his unspoken concern for her, and his ubiquitous care and support. Rufus had done so many things for her.

And she did just take them for granted. Cassandra had got used to his kindness. She needn't utter a word and he would jump out from somewhere to get her out of trouble on the dot, without hurting her sensitive pride.

Sadly, Cassandra had nothing to pay him back. She couldn't give him back the love he was showing her since she had to abide by the secular rules.

Such a forbidden love made her heart ache. Tears from her eyes trickled down, she looked sad and forlorn.

Feeling weak in the knees, Cassandra let herself squat down. She buried her head in her palms and sobbed bitter tears. The LED screen in front of her was displaying an ascending number, the elevator was going up.

It was getting closer and closer to the floor where she was squatting half-heartedly.

she heard a loud sound as the elevator came to a

man's feet striding out of the lift and halted before her.

her moist eyes, to her surprise Rufus's stoic face materialized in front of her. He gazed at her

get up, rubbed off her tears with her hands, and forced a

did

over and clasped her to his chest. He just kept her in his arms, silently, as if trying to knead her into his body, into his blood, and

want to break away. She thought she would never regret even if she needed to pay

"Cassandra... Cassandra..."

her name in her ear sent shivers down her spine. There was a tinge of anguish in his low and

"What's wrong, Rufus?"

a different hug from the way he did before. His hugs before were so possessive and captivating; now, however, it felt like he was holding on to her to

remained silent, he was so immersed with Cassandra's warmth. With the surge of his emotions, he reached out to cup her chin with his hands. Slowly and gently he leaned down to

tender kiss. His warm lips seemed to kiss away all her coldness and

him to explore the fullness of

deep. Cassandra knew that Rufus had so many mysteries buried

be forever, much more that she felt like being a

a moment, he stopped kissing and let go of her. Cassandra was held back at the sudden interruption.

to know when something has happened to you. You know what? I felt like I am such a loser if you prefer to turn to anyone else aside from me when you are in

and adoration. He reached out to stroke her long

on the ground floor when Victor who was waiting for him informed him

it suddenly dawned on Rufus why Cassandra took a bath at Dylon's place. It must

her and immediately turned back to console her. As soon the

with sobs. The tears on

misunderstanding would put this woman under such pain and distress. Rufus knew that she was sensitive but not to this extent. He

help but feel relieved. She nodded and said, "You will be the first one to know whatever

eyes, like glistening stars breaking

his arms. They both enjoyed each other's warmth; and Cassandra felt way better than earlier. Sensing that she was comforted, Rufus took her

is the project

into the hall when Horace got up from the couch and asked

she was rejected today when Rufus spoke to answer his question, "I don't think we can recapture the whole project of the amusement park,

look of assurance and confidence on his

hearing the reply, Horace breathed a sigh of relief. He had hoped it would be a fat chance to retrieve the

much effort into it. Even if the Tang Group had some insider to mediate over things, there was no

serve the best ending, neither the Tang

she heard no word of this news? When had Rufus retrieved the half of the project? How

going to be